Chapter 45: Safe Space

It took Mako around 15 minutes to fully explain everything that transpired during Jaks short slumber. The change of outfits and the housing situation, the talk with Hunopil about the jungle appearance, the Parthenon visitation, ReguClaw’s hatred for Adventurers. The blue haired Rookie left nothing out, explaining every last detail and every action he had taken. He even explained what happened after Jak had got smacked across a whole dune of sand, about Knox’s appearance and the Oxuon keeping his promise.

Needless to say, all of it was very important to mention. When dealing with chaotic and unpredictable situations, every bit of intel counted.

"So...we’re dealing with the same plants that you told me NOT to worry about when we got to ’Ard Araml?" Jak surmised, leaning forward on clasped hands. "The same ones that were by the Rift leading to Ornera?"

"That’s right."

"And these plants are multiplying rapidly-"

"You don’t need to recap what I just said bonehead." Mako waved away Jaks words. "You were right. I was wrong. I should have taken the vegetation problem more seriously. That one is on me."

"As long as you’re aware." Jak rose up from the bed.

It took a second for the redheaded teen to get his barings, the world spinning ever so slightly the moment his feet touched the floor. Despite being awake and active, the redhead still had yet to actually heal, reeling from the effects of getting slapped away by Ontoki’s hook shaped club. The pain flared up every so often, but it wasn’t something Jak couldn’t handle, the dizziness being his only true enemy at that moment.

"Master Yanda....." Meru immediately rose to her feat, hands outstretched to help. However, she quickly retracted herself immediately after. "Please try to hold still....sir. You’re still injured."

As if to follow up what the young girl had said, Knox rose up from the ground and promptly gave himself a good stretch. After making himself nice and limber, he moved over to Jaks left side and nudged him, almost as if urging the youth to use him like a sort of living crutch.

"You guys. I’m fine." Jak ignored the throbbing in his head as best he could. "This little scratch isn’t enough to take me out."

(("Scratch? You nearly got your skull cracked open.")) Mako shook his head. (("If I had just a little bit of that durability. Scary stuff."))

"Just.....be careful." Meru didn’t move from her spot, maintaining a distance away from the dual rookies. "It could be serious....if you overextend yourself."

"Better listen to her, Jak." Mako grinned. Then, just to add fuel to the fire. "After all, it was her who patched you up. Cleaned your wounds, bandaged you, changed the cloth on your head and so on. I didn’t have to lift a finger a single time."

Meru looked as if she wanted to be anywhere else the more Mako put her into the spotlight, her fair skin turning a deep shade of red. Whether or not it was because she was immensely shy or because of some trauma obtained from her time as a slave, it was impossible to tell. Either way, she refused to meet any of their gazes, standing in place with her eyes on the floor and her trembling mouth tightly closed.

"Try not to tease her Mako." Jak walked past the embarrassed girl, Knox close at his heels. "You dont want to make her pop."

"I’m only telling you how it is," Mako defended, following his friend to the front door.

"And Meru." Jak stopped just as he reached the huts exit. Glancing back slightly, a single crimson orb met with the water spirits sky blue eyes. "Thanks."

Mako, ever the problem child, gave the girl a thumbs up and bright smile.

Meru could only stare as they walked out the front door. A feeling, one that she had yet to actually identify, began to rise up within her, grasping her chest tightly. Her hands came up and held that same spot, struggling to breath.

"Do you think that you deserve to be acknowledged?! To be praised?! A lowly piece of trash?! A pitiful race that only deserves to lick the boots of their masters!! You should be grateful I allow you to breath the same air as me!! Grateful that I allow you to share the same space as me!! Never forget who you are!! Worthless! Insignificant!!"

WHICKSSHH!!

"A slave shouldn’t meet the gaze of their betters!! A slave knows their place!! A slave only speaks when spoken to!! A slave doesn’t deserve to be thanked!!"

Meru collapsed on the ground, her legs giving out. For the first time in a long time, tears streamed down her face, fresh hot tears filled with the emotions she had carried with her, bottled away for fear of upsetting her own oppressors. A trickle turned into a stream as she finally cried, her muffled sobs filling up the innards of the small hut.Meru collapsed on the ground, her legs giving out. For the first time in a long time, tears streamed down her face, fresh hot tears filled with the emotions she had carried with her, bottled away for fear of upsetting her own oppressors. A trickle turned into a stream as she finally cried, her muffled sobs filling up the innards of the small hut.

"As of this moment, you’re all free. However, that doesn’t mean we’ll abandon you. From this point onwards, you’ll be taken in by the World Guild Center and helped to get back onto your feet. You have my word that you will not fall into that man’s hands again or anyone hands.

----

"A man is only as good as his word. So, while I’m still alive, I WILL fulfill the promises I made. If you intend to have her then you’ll have to go through me."

----

"Meru. Thanks."

It was a hard feeling to describe, especially since it had been so long since she’d felt it. Ever since her mother’s disappearance, she hadn’t felt anything positive, no hope nor joy, no laughter nor love. But, beyond that, beyond those emotions, she felt something that she never thought she’d ever feel again.

For the first time in a long time, Meru felt safe.

And so, the young spirit sat there on the warm floor and allowed the tears to flow one after another.

For once, she could afford to let some of her emotions show.

------------

Just outside, the two adventurers stood by the door, listening to the various cries amd whimpers coming through the cracks in the house.

"Do you think we should cheer her up?" Mako asked, running some fingers through Knoxs thick fur.

"No." Jak leaned against the side of the hut. "Let’s just let her be. She needs this."

--

Jak wasnt entirely sure how long they stood there in that one spot, but it was probably around the twenty minute mark that Meru left the confines of the house. Surprisingly though, she didn’t look all that shocked the rookie duo had been standing by the door, though it was admittedly hard to tell with her bloodshot eyes. She didn’t say anything to either of them, but she also didn’t shy away like she had before.

That being said, she still didn’t make eye contact with either one of them.

Of course, it wasn’t like Jak expected Meru to work through her own enslaved past within a few hours of being free. Baby steps were necessary, and the young girl had just barely begun the long process needed to fully heal. As someone who was still actively healing from his own scars, Jak was all too aware of how long the journey would actually take and how difficult the journey itself was. Even the toughest warriors struggled with bouncing back after being utterly shattered.

"Okay. Show me the jungle." Jak moved his gaze off of Meru and onto his blue haired friend. "It isn’t that far right?"

Mako smirked before telling him the distance.

"Oh." Jak frowned. "That’s quite the trip. Ill just take your word for it then."

"We’ll have to pass the forest anyways," Mako said as he started walking in the given direction. "We might as well start moving now. If your poor boo boo is still acting up, I can carry you if you need Jakky boi."

"I swear I’ll cut you."

--

"Just about time for shift change." Margaret stretched out her upper body, ample bosom threatening to pop the buttons on her uniform. "I could go for a honey bun. Maybe some candy."

"You should really lay off the sweets. You’ll end up gaining weight."

"I burned so many calories during this last month that I’m pretty sure I’ve LOST weight. Never been so stressed in my life."

Flora leaned back in her seat, letting out a small relieved sigh as she reveled in the feeling of finishing the last Trial of the late afternoon. Having worked herself to the bone for the last three weeks with almost no days off, the brief hiatus in the ever expanding workload was like a divine miracle sent down from the heavens themselves. As Margaret had said, it was almost time for the current round of receptionists within Branch #257 to be replaced, and it was something Flora was looking forward to.

A hot and steamy bath. A glass of wine. A paperback romance book. Even at that moment, she could picture it in her head and drooled in anticipation.

Sadly. Life never went as planned.

Knock! Knock!

The loud and repetitive knocks on the WGC buildings twin doors snapped the two receptionists back to reality, causing both of them to rise up from their seats. It wasn’t unusual to hear knocking, especially after the doors had been closed, be it for shift change or the start of a new Trial. Impatient Adventurers, arrogant snobs, disrespectful nobles, and a plethora of other individuals who thought they had the right to completely disregard the rules placed by the World Guild Center. It was actually quite a common occurrence, happening every three days or so.

However, what WAS exceptionally rare was the strength of the knock, a slamming of wood powerful enough to shake the very hinges the doors rested upon.

"Do you think it’s an emergency?" Margaret asked as she and her compatriot exited from the workers area.

"It better be." Flora clenched her fist, raising it in a threatening manner. "Otherwise, I’m wringing someone’s neck."

Margaret could only laugh nervously as the blonde receptionist barged forward, an irritated look in her eyes. As if on a mission, Flora grabbed the handle of the large doors and effortlessly yanked it all the way open, as if it was made of paper.

"This had better be important."

A small breath, a cloud of icy steam escaping a pair of lips. Yokina placed a hand on her hip, icy hues meeting with Flora’s. Apart from a few missing pieces of armor, she looked widely unharmed. At the same time, piled up behind her were a number of individuals who definitely looked the worse for ware.

"Apologies for the intrusion. However, we have an issue on our hands."